Teething is one of those baby milestones every parent feels unprepared for. One day your baby is happily chewing their fist. The next, they are dribbling through three vests before lunch and waking mysteriously at 4am for no apparent reason.
The good news is that it passes, and knowing what to expect makes it far less alarming. Here is what teething actually is, when it starts, what to have ready, and how to soothe your baby through it. We have covered what counts as ‘normal’ too, so you know when to ring the GP.
Please note: This article provides general information only and should not replace medical advice. If you're concerned about your baby's diet or health, always speak to your GP. Always seek professional support.
What is teething and what to expect
Teething is the process of your baby's first teeth pushing up through the gums. These are usually called milk teeth, and there are 20 of them altogether.
Each tooth works its way through the gum, which can feel sore for a few days before it appears. Some babies sail through. Others let you know all about it.
Baby teeth sometimes emerge with no pain at all, or only mild symptoms lasting a few days. When there are signs of teething, they usually include:
- a sore, red gum where the tooth is coming through
- a slightly raised temperature, but less than 38C
- one flushed cheek
- a rash on the face
- rubbing an ear
- more dribble than usual
- lots of gnawing and chewing
- being more fretful than usual
- not sleeping very well
You might see most of these. You might only see a couple. Both are normal.
When do babies start teething?
Most babies start teething at around six months old. Some start before four months, some not until after their first birthday, and a few are born with a tooth already through. Every baby is different.
Teeth also tend to arrive in a rough order:
- Central incisors, the front teeth, at around 6 months
- Lateral incisors, either side of the front teeth, at around 8 months
- First molars, the back teeth, at around 12 months
- Canines, the pointed teeth in between, at around 18 months
- Second molars at around 24 months
Bottom teeth usually come through before the matching top ones, so expect the bottom front teeth first. Most children have all 20 by two to three years old.
Try not to compare. A baby who cuts their first tooth at ten months is not behind. If you want the wider picture, our guide to your baby's growth and development from 0 to 12 months covers what else happens at this age.
Things to prepare for teething
You do not need a drawer full of gadgets. A few useful things, in the house before you need them at 2am, will do.
Worth having ready:
- Two or three teething rings. Some can be chilled in the fridge to soothe sore gums, so check the packet for how long. Never use the freezer, as a frozen ring can damage the gums.
- Muslins or bibs, and more than you think. Dribble is the symptom parents underestimate.
- A barrier cream for the chin and neck, for dribble rash.
- In-date infant paracetamol or ibuprofen. Paracetamol can be given from two months and ibuprofen from three months. Follow the packet instructions, and ask a pharmacist or GP if unsure.
- A soft baby toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Start brushing as soon as the first tooth breaks through, and register your baby with a dentist.
Avoid amber teething necklaces. They are a choking and strangulation risk, and nothing should be tied around your baby's neck.
How to help your teething baby
Something to chew on is usually the most useful thing you can offer. Chewing gives counter pressure against the gum, which takes the edge off.
Things that tend to help:
- A teething ring, chilled in the fridge rather than frozen.
- A gentle gum rub with a clean finger. Free, and often better than anything you can buy.
- Distraction. A cuddle, a song, a change of room. Pain feels bigger when nothing else is going on.
- Cool water to sip, if your baby is over six months old, or something cold and soft to chew if they have started weaning. Melon is good for this.
- Sugar-free infant paracetamol or ibuprofen, if your baby is uncomfortable and old enough.
If you are offering food to chew, stay with your baby while they eat in case they choke, and give rusks and sugary snacks a miss, as sugar can cause tooth decay. Our guide to weaning your baby has more on first food ideas.
Nights are the hardest part, because there is less to distract from the ache. Keeping your usual calming bedtime routine steady helps more than you would expect. Some babies also want more comfort feeds while teething, and that is fine.
What is normal for a teething baby?
Normal covers a wide range, which is what makes teething so confusing.
Normal looks like heavy dribbling, chewing on everything, a red cheek, a mild temperature under 38C, broken sleep, and a grumpier baby for a few days around each tooth. Feeding can dip too, because sucking puts pressure on a sore gum.
What is not down to teething: a temperature of 38C or above, diarrhoea, vomiting, a cough, or a baby who seems properly unwell. Teething and illness overlap at this age because babies pick up plenty of bugs, so it is easy to blame the teeth. There is no evidence teething causes symptoms like diarrhoea, so look for another cause.
Bowel movement changes are a common worry during teething. Our guide to understanding your baby's poo explains what different changes usually mean.
You know your baby best. If something feels wrong, or a symptom is worrying you, contact your GP or call NHS 111. That is not overreacting. That is being a parent.
Teething questions, answered
How do I know if my baby is teething?
The clearest signs of teething are a sore, red gum where a tooth is pushing through, more dribble than usual, and constant chewing on hands, toys or anything within reach. Your baby may also have one flushed cheek, be rubbing an ear, and seem more fretful than normal. Some babies show none of this at all.
Can teething cause a fever?
Teething can raise your baby's temperature slightly, but it should stay below 38C. A temperature of 38C or above is not caused by teething and means your baby may be unwell, so speak to your GP or call NHS 111.
How long does teething last?
Each tooth usually causes discomfort for a few days around the time it breaks through, not for weeks on end. The process as a whole runs from around six months to two or three years old, so teething comes in short bursts across a long stretch rather than one continuous phase.
Do babies sleep worse when teething?
Many babies do sleep less well while a tooth is coming through, because there is less to distract them from the ache at night. This usually settles once the tooth has broken the gum. To work out what is related to teething and understand more about normal sleeping patterns, see our guide to what is normal for baby sleep.
What are the worst months for teething?
Parents often find the first teeth at six months and the molars at 12 and 24 months the hardest, because molars are bigger with more surface to push through. There is no fixed pattern though, and plenty of babies barely notice the rest.
What should I avoid when my baby is teething?
Never put a teething ring in the freezer, as a frozen ring can damage your baby's gums, and never tie anything around your baby's neck because of the choking risk. Avoid amber teething necklaces for the same reason. Skip rusks and sugary snacks too, as sugar can cause tooth decay.
What you need to remember
Teething is not the milestone anyone looks forward to. It is dribbly, disrupted and drawn out, and it turns up just as you thought you had sleep sorted. But every tooth that breaks through is one less to go.
Keep it simple. Something to chew, a calm cuddle, and pain relief when it is really needed.
For more on the first year, read our guide to growth and development from 0 to 12 months. If teething is eating into your nights, baby sleep: what is normal? will help. And if you are heading into weaning at the same time, our guide to weaning your baby is a good place to start. There is plenty more on the first year over on the Kendamil blog, for whenever you have a free hand.
Important Notice
Breastfeeding gives babies the best start, but we understand that every family’s journey is different. Follow-On Milk is suitable for little ones over 6 months old, as part of a varied diet. Chat with your healthcare professional for more guidance.
